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“I do my best proofreading right after I hit ‘Send.’”
- Anonymous
Writing is a solitary business.
It is usually done alone, but isn’t necessarily lonely.
I cannot speak about collaboration, because I have never had the occasion to partner with someone in that regard. Having a partner may bring its own set of challenges.
Much has been written about the process of writing. Like colored pushpins, advice is sprinkled all over the map. Some writers have a set routine. Some write in the morning, some at night. Some get inspired while walking, others while driving or taking a shower.
Some advisors stress sheer output. With quantity may come quality, they argue. I’m not so sure.
As Ernest Hemingway is reported to have said, “It is easy to write. Just sit in front of your typewriter and bleed.”
My skin isn’t blood-stained but I know whereof he spoke. The block that bedevils some hovers, like a dog waiting for a treat, in the background every time I sit at the computer with writing intent. I hope to keep it at bay.
Writing may be akin to how inventor Thomas Edison described genius: “1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.”
